2025 Kids' Choice KidLit Writing Contest Teaser AND... I'm Hiring!

Have you been wondering if the Kids' Choice contest is happening in 2025?

Well...

Very soon, I will be ready to share some SUPER exciting news with you... because the Kids' Choice KidLit Writing Contest is BACK for year 4 (!!!) and this year, we will be making it a fundraiser to fight book bans! I can't wait to share all the details with you soon, but make sure you are subscribed to my newsletter and get your friends subscribed so that you don't miss a moment!

 In the mean time, I've decided to hire a part-part time personal assistant! I've realized this last year that I can't write all of the books I want to write while booking my own school visits and things. I still really want to DO those appearances, but finding the time to reach out and pitch myself has become difficult. So I'm looking for some help!

By applying, you recognize that this job is extremely part time. Only 5 hours per week. You should only apply if you are okay with a VERY part time job. You will also have access to Kailei for publishing related questions and guidance. If you apply, you must also be willing to fill out a W-9 form for tax purposes.

Pay is $20/hr, 5 hours per week, for a total of $100/week (paid every Friday).

You can customize your hours however best fits your schedule, anything from doing 1 hour per day to knocking out all 5 hours in one day. You will be asked to be self motivated and work on your own after receiving training from Kailei. Kailei will give you a list of tasks each month, and they can be done in any order you like, unless Kailei asks you to focus on one specific area. 

Tasks will include: 

- Reaching out to Bookstores, Schools, Community Groups, etc. to promote Kailei's books

- Reaching out to Schools, Libraries, and Community Groups to request author visits

- Creating (from an already established template) author visit order forms, contracts, flyers, and more

- Assisting with Kailei's schedule

Optional additional tasks (if you feel comfortable) may include: 

- Creating canva marketing graphics

- Video editing

-Book Staging Photos

If this feels like a good fit for you, please apply by clicking the button below! Applications are open through November 30th and Kailei will reach out to anyone she would like to interview the first week of December. A final decision will be made by December 15th and the job will begin January 6th. 

Thanks so much for considering!

Apply here to be my Personal Assistant

Announcing the 2024 Kids' Choice KidLit Writing Contest Honorable Mentions!

Hello, friends! Thank you so much for your patience waiting for the 2024 Kids' Choice Honorable Mentions. I know it has been a long wait. But I've had good reason! I just launched a brand new book into the world!

Kid-ventors tells the true stories of 35 kids and their amazing inventions! From 6-player chess to the windsurfer, the trampoline to a hollow flashlight, kids have made some incredible things.

And before we talk about the real reason you're here, I just want to take a moment to thank you all for the support you've given me. To be honest, I can only continue offering these extra competitions and community things if I can keep working on books too. So it would mean the world to me if you would please consider supporting in one of these ways:

• Purchase a copy of Kid-ventors

• Request a copy of Kid-ventors at your local library (this is free and only takes a moment! Use ISBN 978-1250836021)

• Leave an honest review on Amazon (You do not have to purchase the book to leave a review)

Thank you so much for considering one of the above options! It really makes such a big difference for me.

And don't forget that you can log bonus entries in my massive giveaway for doing so, now through April 30th!

And finally, don't forget that I have one final virtual launch event! The first "Meet the Inventors" event was an absolute blast! It was so inspiring to hear from real inventors and see where they are now. I would love to get a large group gathered to celebrate these amazing inventors and thank them for their time! Register by clicking the image below!

Register for Meet the Mentors 2 Here

Okay... that's enough self promotion!! Thank you for baring with me and supporting this journey so I can keep doing the fun things too!

So finally, for the reason you all opened this...

 

Announcing the 2024 Kids' Choice Kidlit Writing Challenge Honorable Mentions!

If you missed the winner's announcement, you can see that HERE.

Now, we will announce the honorable mentions! These are the entries who made it on to the middle round of judging. Please remember that if you don't see your name on this list, it does not mean that your story wasn't wonderful. To be honest, almost every story had at least one child choose it as their favorite! So remember that no matter what, your work is needed. Keep working and keep putting your words out there. Real kids read your stories and that is such a happy thing!

And now... take a moment to congratulate the following honorable mentions!

(These are in no particular order).

YA Honorable Mentions

COLD WATER by Jessie Raspbury

MY MOTHER’S GARDEN by Miral Azam Khalil

FROM ANTARCTICA, WITH LOVE by Christine Letizia

CRUSH(ED) by Brenna Jeanneret

THE PRINCE’S HEART by Ali Herbek

JUST A GIRL AND HER DOG by Kelly Kandra Hughes

THE BREAK UP by Lori Keating

DEAR CLAIRE by Sarah Meade

K ISLAND by Jess Freeman

TALISMANS AND TRAITORS by Michelle Kastanek

MG Honorable Mentions

THE COMPLETE CONFESSIONS OF THE EINSTEIN ACADEMY BOTANY CLUB  by Hannah Lorenzo

PICK YOUR BATTLES by PJ Lemer

HAUNTED POND by Suzanne Elson

WENDY & WAGS by Claudia Sloan           

A SLIME-Y SITUATION      by Ashley Sierra        

IS BAKING COOKIES USUALLY SO HARD? by Lilyana Page

GRUMPY CHAIRS by Zahra Raza

THE WITCH OF EYNHALLOW SOUND by Judy Broad

THE PURPLE BIRD by Stacey Bartlett

THE FORGOTTEN HORSE by Kelly Clasen

THE SNOLLYGOSTER CHRONICLES by Carrie Karnes-Fannin

THE DRAGON NEXT DOOR by Nicole Frees

DIMES FROM HEAVEN by Sharon McCarthy

THE WILDNESS IN MELLIE FEYE by Candice Conner

STU AND THE SKETCHY TIME STOPS by Rebecca Chaney

JAREN SILVERWING AND THE FORBIDDEN SPELL by Dor Atkinson

PB Honorable Mentions

 

MAIL ME TO THE MOON by Laura Smetana

RAYLEE’S KERFUFFLE by Mary Lou Mires.   

CARL LEE FLOWER by Delano Brown  

I DON’T LIKE THIS BOOK by Nikki Del Vecchio 

WEIRDOMETER by Chandra Mayer   

ROOTS, ROCKS, TRAILS, TREES by Laureanna Raymond-Duvernell   

KITTEN’S FIRST CHRISTMAS by Maura Lance

PERCY'S PERFECT PLANE by Jeanette Fazzari Jones

WHAT’S FOR DINNER? By Emily Dunckle 

SAIL THE SALTY SEAS WITH PIRATE PICKLE by Jess Burbank        

FIRE DANCE by Donna Rossman   

LATE BLOOMER by Erin Rew                   

MAPLE’S PERFECT PICKLE by Katie Lee Reinert          

THE HOME IMPROVEMENT STORE by Nichole Stratton                                  

FOR NO REASON by Ashley Laffin

WHEN A BEAGLE GETS A BOOK by Beth Janes

20 STEPS TO GET TO THE BEACH by Caitlin T.D. Robinson    

FIVE TWINKLING STARS DANCING ON A CLOUD by Susan Elizabeth Schipper     

BANANAS IN THE BATH by Andi Chitty           

Congratulations to all of these honorable mentions! You will receive an email from me on Monday with details on your prize!

Thank you again to everyone who entered and to all of our wonderful kid judges for making this possible! It was so fun to run this contest for the third year in a row. Remember, you got your words in front of kid readers and that alone is a prize!

Kid-Ventors Launch Giveaway!

Hello, friends!

It's hard to believe that we are just 12 days away from the launch of my first middle grade book, KID-VENTORS! This book tells the true stories of 35 incredible kid inventors. From the popsicle to the trampolines, robots to crowd pleasing games, kids have invented some really amazing things!

My first copies of the book arrived yesterday and I am blown away by the gorgeous cover! Shannon Wright knocked it out of the park.

It was amazing to have the graphic, but to have the physical copy is next level! The spot gloss is soooo fun and it makes it look like a kid's notebook covered in stickers. (Shoutout to L. Whitt for the incredible design).

And now, to celebrate release, it's time to do a MASSIVE giveaway!

Did you see that graphic?? Yes, you read it correctly! I am offering one lucky winner their choice of:

• 3 rounds of critique plus 3 zoom calls to get a manuscript submission ready

• 3-session classroom writing workshop (virtual or in person if Phoenix metro area)

• 20-book Classroom Set of KID-VENTORS

And the ONLY thing you have to do to enter is fill out the Google Form linked below with your name and email address so that I know you are throwing your hat in the ring.

There are BONUS entries that you can log on the form, but none of them are required.

Pick and choose which ones (if any) work for you:

• 5 bonus entries: Share about this contest on social media, in your personal newsletter, with your friends, literally anywhere!
  

• 5 bonus entries: Follow me on Twitter/X

• 5 bonus entries: Follow me on Instagram

• 5 bonus entires: Post on Social Media About KID-VENTORS, including a purchase link of your choice (Can be completed multiple times)

• 10 bonus entries: Sign up for my email newsletter

• 10 bonus entries: (To be completed after 4/23) Leave an honest Goodreads review after reading the book (Note that you can commit to this at any time on the form and I will simply check when the contest closes. So if you fill out the form before on sale date, you can commit to it in advance...just leave the review before the contest closes.)

• 10 bonus entries: (To be completed after 4/23) Leave an honest Amazon review after reading the book (Note that you can commit to this at any time on the form and I will simply check when the contest closes. So if you fill out the form before on sale date, you can commit to it in advance...just leave the review before the contest closes.)

• 15 bonus entries: Ask your local bookstore to carry KID-VENTORS

• 30 bonus entries: Attend one (or both!) of the Meet the Inventors Launch Events (for up to 60 bonus entries)

  • Register for Event 1 Here

  • Register for Event 2 Here

• 30 bonus entries: Request KID-VENTORS from your local library (ISBN: 9781250836021, Publisher: Feiwel and Friends, Author: Kailei Pew, On sale date: April 23, 2024)

• 30 bonus entries: Order a copy of Kid-ventors:

  • Literally, a Bookshop (signed copies plus freebies)

  •  Changing Hands      

  • Barnes & Noble    

  • Indie Bound      

  • Amazon

  • Target    

  • Walmart

That's a LOT of extra chances to win!! Thank you all for helping me spread the word about KID-VENTORS. I truly can't tell you how excited I am to get these stories out into the world. I hope that this giveaway gets you excited as well! Click the button below to go to the form and good luck to all entrants!

The giveaway runs now through April 30th and winner will be announced around May 15th (depending on how many entries I get to log!)

Enter the KID-VENTORS launch giveaway here